Reclining chair with extensible sectional leg rest



Dec. 18, 1956 J. LUCKHARDT 2,774,412

RECLINING CHAIR WITH EXTENSIBLE SECTIONAL LEG REST Filed July 8, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR JQHQNNES LUCKHHRDT BYfl- AZ- ATTORNEY Dec. 18, 1956 J. LUCKHARDT 2,774,412

RECLINING CHAIR WITH EXTENSIBLE! SECTIONAL LEG REST Filed July 8, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I30 I5l 10.0144 3e I60 Ibb INVENTOR JOHHNNES LUCKHHRDT ATTO R N EY Dec. 18, 1956 J. LUCKHARDT RECLINING CHAIR WITH EXTENSIBLE SECTIONAL. LEG REST Filed July 8, 195a 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JOHQNNES LUCKHHRDT BY ATTORNEY Dec. 18, 1956 J. LUCKHARDT 2,774,412

RECLINING CHAIR WITH EXTENSIBLE SECTIONAL LEG REST Filed July 8, .1953

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR JOHHNNES LUCKHQRD'I BY g- ATTORN EY United States Patent RECLINING CHAIR WITH EXTENSIBLE SECTIONAL LEG REST Johannes Luckhardt, Berlin-Dahlcm, Germany, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Norman P.'Martin and Otto L. Walter as trustees of Delta Trust, Lake Worth, Fla.

Application July 8', 1953, Serial No. 366,808

11 Claims. (Cl. 155110) This invention relates to articles of furniture and more particularly to a leg-rest control arrangement for use in an article of repose for support in the bodyof a person, wherein a seat and controlling means arranged in operative relation to each. other on a support are movable relative to said support andin pre-determined relation to each other.

An objectof the present invention is to provide a legrest control arrangement by means of which on one hand the leg-rest is swung upwardlyand on the other hand is extended when the seat of the article of repose is moved from the sitting position into a reclined position, so that the supporting position of the leg-rest in the elevated position of the latter is extended to such a degree that a full support of the legs of a tall person resting on the article of repose is assured.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an extensible leg-rest arrangement which can be collapsed in the sitting position of the leg-rest to such a degree, that the article of repose may be made comparatively low, and which in spite of this collapsible feature permits an extension of the leg-rest during its movement from the sitting position into the elevated position to such an extent, that a full support of the legs of the occupant of the article is assured.

Another object of the present invention is to improve on the art of articles of repose for supporting the body of a'person as now customarily made.

The above mentioned objects and advantages, as well as other objects and advantages, willbe more fully disclosed in the following specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a chair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the chair shown in Fig. 1, wherein however the movable members of the chair are in a different position, a portion of a side frame being broken away and the leg-rest being shown in section,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a difierent embodiment of an armchair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of' the chair shown in Fig. 3, wherein however the movable members of the chair are in difierent position,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of a chair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away,

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the chair shown in Fig. 5, wherein however the movable members of the chair are in a different position,

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of a chair according to the invention, a portion of a side frame being broken away, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective underneath view of the leg-rest and'its control of the chair'shown'in Fig. 1.

2,774,412 Patented Dec. 18, 1 956 Referring nOW to Figs. 1 and 2, 20 generally indicates a support comprising side frames 22 and 24 connected with each other by a transverse bar 26.

A unit generally indicated by 28 including a seat 30 and a back-rest 32 rigid with each other, is swingably mounted on the support 20 at 34.

As shown in Figs. 1,2 and 8- a leg-rest generally indicated by 36 has lugs 38 on each of its sides. Said lugs 38' of the leg-rest 36 are pivoted to the front end of the seat 30 at 40. Furthermore on each side of the leg-rest 36 one end of a controlling link 42 is pivoted to said legrest 36 at 44. The other end of said controlling link 42 is pivoted at 46 to the lower arm of a double-armed lever 48' swingably mounted at 59 on a lug 52' rigidly secured to the support 26. The upper" arm of said double-armed lever 48 is pivoted at 54 to one end of a link 56 forming an arm-rest. The other end of said link 56 is pivoted'to the back-rest 32 at 58.

Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8 an extension 60 is swingably mounted on the end of the leg-rest 36 at 62. One end of a link 64 is pivoted at'66 to a lug 68 secured to the extension 60. The other end of said link 64 is pivoted at 76 to one arm of a double-armed lever 72 swingably mounted at 74 on a lug 76 rigidly secured to the leg-rest 36. The other arm of said doublearmed lever 72 is pivoted at '78 to one end of' a link 80, the other end of which is hinged to the seat 30 at 82.

The sitting position of the movable members of the chair (see Fig. l) is limited by a stop 84 mounted on the support 20 for abutting engagement with the seat 30. The extreme reclined position of the movable members of the chair (see Fig. 2) is limited by a stop 86 mounted on the support 26 for abutting engagement with thebackrest 32.

As shown in Fig. 1, the extension 60 is in a folded-position relative to the leg-rest 36, when the latter is in its sitting position.

When the unit 28 is swung about the pivot 34 from the sitting position shown in Fig. 1 into-the reclined position shown in Fig. 2, the leg-rest 36 is swung around the pivot 40 into an elevated almost horizontal position by means of the controlling mechanisms 42, 48, 56. At the same time the extension 60 is' swung around its pivot 62 by means of the link mechanism 64, 72, 80, so that it is brought from its folded position shown in Fig. 1 into a position substantially in alignment with the leg-rest 36 as shown in Fig. 2. The controlling mechanisms 42, 48, 56 and 64, 72, are designed in such a manner, that in the beginning of the elevation of the leg-rest 36 the extension 60 may pass above the floor and is propelled into its position in alignment with the leg-rest 36 after it cleared the floor.

According to the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 again the seat 136 and the back-rest 132 form aunit 128 swingably mounted on the support at 134.

The leg-rest 136 pivoted to the seat at 140 is again provided with an extension 169 hinged to said legrest 136 at 162. Furthermore, again a spreading mechanism comprising the links 164, 172 and is interposed between the seat 130 and the leg-rest extension 160, the link 164 being pivoted to the extension 160, the doublearmed link 172 being pivoted to the leg-rest 136 and the link 180 being pivoted to the seat 130.

However the controlling link 142 pivoted at one of its ends to the leg-rest 136 at 144 is pivoted at its other end' at 146 to an arm 149 swingably mounted on the support 120 at 151. One end of a link 157 is pivoted to said arm 149 at 155. The other end of saidlink 157 is. pivoted at 159 to a downward extension 188 forming a support of the unit 128.

The sitting position is shown in Fig. 3 and the. extreme reclined position is shown in Fig. 4. During a movement of the movable members of the chair from said sitting tion with the swinging movement of the seat could be pivposition into said reclined position the leg-rest 136 is swung into an elevated, substantially horizontal position 7 while at the same time the extension 160 is brought, from its folded position into a position substantially in alignment with the leg-rest 136.

According to the embodiment shown in Figs. and 6,

connected at 294 with a front link 296 and a guiding link,

298, the former being pivoted to the seat at 200, the latter being pivoted to the support 220 at 202. The guiding link 298 has a downward extension 204. Thus, the chair has a constrained linkage having a. plurality of movable links 232, 290, 296, 298 and having stationary link means formed by the portion of the support between the pivots 202and 235. I V V Againithe leg-rest 236 carrying the swingable extension 260 is pivoted to the seat 230 at 240. Moreover, again the linkage 264, 272, 280 arranged between the seat 230 and the extension 260 are engaged with the leg-rest 236 causing a movement of the extension 260 from the folded position shown in Fig; 5 into the position in alignment with the leg-rest 236 as shown in Fig. 6 during a movement of said leg-rest 236 from its sitting position into its elevated position. Said swinging movement of the leg-rest 236 around its pivot 240 is caused by the controlling link 242 pivoted to the leg-rest 236 at 244 and pivoted to the extension 204 of the guiding link 298 at 206.

According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, the legrest336 with its swingable extension 360 and the controlling mechanism 364, 372, 380 is applied to a reclining chair of a difierent type. The leg-rest 336 is pivoted to the seat 330 of the chair at 340 and the link 380 of said controlling mechanism is hinged to said seat 330 at 382. The rear end portion of said seat 330 is swingably mounted on the support 320 at 337 at a point spaced from the pivotal connection 339 between the back-rest 332 and the support 320. A downward extension 333 of the back rest 332'is pivoted at 389 to the rear end of a lower connecting link 391. The front end of said lower connecting link 391 is pivoted at 395 to one end of a front connecting link 397, the other end of which is pivoted to the seat 330 at 301. A guiding link 399 swingably mounted on the support 320 at 303 is pivoted to the lower connecting link 391 at 308. An extension 305 of said guiding link 399 is pivoted at 307 to one end of the controlling link 342, the other end of which is pivoted to the leg-rest 336 at 344. When a person resting on the chair leans the weight of his body against the back-rest 332, the leg-rest 336 is swung from the position shown in full lines into the position 336' shown in dash and dot lines by the controlling link 342 connected with a link of the constrained linkage of the chair. At the same time the extension 360 is brought into the position 360 by means of the spreading mechanism 364, 372, 380. j

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention but it is understood that this disclosure is for the pur pose of illustration and that various changes in shape, and

proportion, as Well as the substitution of equivalent eletothe invention may also be applied to difierent types of' reclining chairs or the like. a

Furthermore the controlling link pivoted to the leg-rest for swinging same into the elevated position in coordinaoted at its other end to another movable member or link 7 of the chair than the members or links shown in the drawings. 7

Furthermore the Swinging movement of the leg-rest in coordination with the swinging movement of the seat could be obtained by a diiferent kind of controlling means operatively engaged with the leg-rest. V V

7 Moreover, the spreading means, arranged between the seat and extension of the leg-rest could be of a diiierent type of construction. a

What I claim is: 1

1. A leg-rest control arrangement, for use in an article of repose for supporting the body of a person wherein a seat and controlling meansrarranged in operative relation to each other on 'a support are movable relative to said support and in predetermined relation to each other, said leg-rest control arrangement comprising: a leg-rest structure including a main portion and an extension movably joined at adjacent ends, thesmain portion of said leg-rest structure being arranged for ,swingable connection with the front end portion of said seat, actuating means on the main portion of said leg-rest structure for operative engagement with said controlling means, a double armed lever swingably mounted on said main portion of the leg-' rest' structure, said double armed lever being separate from said actuating means, a first link pivoted at one of its ends to one arm of said double-armed lever and at its other end to'said extension of the leg-rest structure, and

rest structure including a controlling link pivoted at one 7 of its ends to said main portion, the other end of said controlling link being arranged for pivotal connection with said controlling means;

3. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a seat swingably arranged on said support, controlling means movably arranged on said support, said controlling means and said seat being in operative relation to each other so 7 as to perform movements in predetermined relation to each other, a leg-rest structure including a main portion and an extension movably joined at adjacent ends, the mainportion of said leg-rest structure being swingably mounted on the front end portion ofsaid seat, said controlling means being operatively engaged with said main;

portion of the leg-rest structure so as to effect movements of the, latter in coordination with movements of said seat, said extension of the leg-rest structure 'being in a Y folded position relative to said main portion of the legrest structure when the latter is in a sitting position, and a double-armed lever swingably mounted on said main portion of said leg-rest structure, a first link pivoted at one of its endsto one arm of said double-armed lever I and at its other end to said extension, and a second link pivoted at one of its ends to the other arm of said doublearmed lever and at its other end to said seat, whereby said extension of the leg-rest structure is swung from its folded position substantially into alignment with the main portion of said leg-rest structure during a movement of said main portion from said sitting position into another end position by said controlling means. 7

4. An'article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprisingin combination: a support, a seat swingably arranged on said support, controllinm movably arranged on said support, said controlling means and said seat being in operative relation to each other so as to perform movements in predeterminedrelation to each other, a leg-rest structure including a main portion and an extension movably joined atadjacent ends, the'main portionof said leg-rest structure being swingably mounted on the front end portion of said seat, a controlling link pivoted at one of its ends to said controlling means and at its other end to said main portion of the leg-rest structure whereby movements of said main portion of the leg-rest structure are effected in coordination with movements of said seat, said extension of the leg-rest structure being in a folded position relative to said main portion of the leg-rest structure when the latter is in a sitting position, and a double-armed lever swingably mounted on said main portion of said leg-rest structure, a first link pivoted at one of its ends to one arm of said double-armed lever and at its other end to said extension, and a second link pivoted at one of its ends to the other arm of said double-armed lever and at its other end to said seat, whereby said extension of the leg-rest structure is swung from its folded position substantially into alignment with the main portion of said leg-rest structure during a movement of said main portion from said sitting position into another end position by said controlling means and controlling link.

An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a unit including a back-rest and seat rigid with each other, said unit being swingably mounted on said support, a leg-rest structure including a main portion and an extension movably joined at adjacent ends, the main portion of said leg-rest structure being swingably mounted on the front end portion of said unit, controlling link-means, one end of said controlling link-means being pivoted to a rear portion of said unit, the other end of saidcontrolling linkmeans being pivoted to said main portion of the leg-rest structure so as to effect movements of the latter in coordination with movements of said unit, said extension of the leg-rest structure being in a folded position relative to said main portion of the leg-rest structure When the latter is in a sitting position, a double-armed lever swingably mounted on said main portion of the leg-rest structure, a first link pivoted at one of its ends to one arm of said double armed lever and at its other end to said extension, and a second link pivoted at one of its ends to the other arm of said double-armed lever and at its other end to a front portion of said unit.

6. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a unit including a back-rest and seat rigid with each other, said unit being swingably mounted on said support, a leg-rest structure including a main portion and an extension movably joined at adjacent ends, the main portion of said leg-rest structure being swingably mounted on the front end portion of said unit, a controlling link-mechanism including a plurality of pivotally connected link-members, one end of said controlling link-mechanism being pivoted to a rear portion of said unit, the other end of said controlling link-mechanism being pivoted to said main portion of the leg-rest structure so as to efiect movements of the latter in coordination with movements of said unit, said extension of the leg-rest structure being in a folded position relative to said main portion of the leg-rest structure when the latter is in a sitting position, a doublearmed lever swingably mounted on said main portion of the leg-rest structure, a first link pivoted at one of its ends to one arm of said double-armed lever and at its other end to said extension, and a second link pivoted at one of its ends to the other arm of said double-armed lever and at its other end to a front portion of said unit.

7. In a article of repose as claimed in claim 6, said controlling link-mechanism including a first controlling link, a two-arm lever, and a second controlling link, said two-arm lever being swingably mounted on said support,

6 said first controlling link being pivoted at one of its ends to said main portion of the leg-rest structure and at its other end to one arm of said two-arm lever, and said second controlling link being pivoted at one of its ends to the other arm of said two-arm lever and at its other end to the back-rest portion of said unit.

8. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 6, said unit including further a downward extension projecting downwardly beyond the pivotal connection between said unit and said support, said controlling link-mechanism including a first controlling link, an arm, and a second controlling link, said arm being swingably mounted on said support, said first controlling link being pivoted at one of its ends to said main portion of the leg-rest structure and at its other end to said arm, and said second controlling link being pivoted at one of its ends to said arm and at its other end to said downward extension of said unit.

9. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising in combination: a support, a constrained linkage having stationary link-means and a plurality of movable links, said stationary link-means being included in said support, said movable links including a seat-member, a back-rest member, guiding means and a chain of connecting links including a first connecting link at one end of the chain and a second connecting link at the other end of the chain, said guiding means being connected to said support and engaged with at least one connecting link of said chain of connecting links, said first connecting link being pivoted to said back-rest member, said second connecting link being pivoted to the front portion of said seatmember, means pivotally connecting at least one of said back-rest and seat members with said support, a leg-rest structure including a main portion and an extension movably joined at adjacent ends, the main portion of said leg-rest structure being swingably mounted on the front end portion of said seatmember, a controlling link pivoted at one of its ends to said main portion of the leg-rest structure and at its other end to a movable link of said constrained linkage, said extension of the leg-rest structure being in a folded position relative to said main portion of the leg-rest structure when the latter is in a sitting position, a double-armed lever swingably mounted on said main portion of the legrest structure, a first link pivoted at one of its ends to one arm of said double-armed lever and at its other end to said extension, and a second link pivoted at one of its ends to the other arm of said double-armed lever and at its other end to the front end portion of said seat-member.

10. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 9, said back-rest and said seat being pivoted to said support in coaxial alignment with each other.

11. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 9, said back-rest and said seat being pivoted to said support at points spaced from each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 667,363 Giess Feb. 5, 1901 1,111,685 Allison Sept. 22, 1914 1,534,272 Koken Apr. 21, 1925 1,688,576 Doyle Oct. 23, 1928 2,664,942 Spear Jan. 5, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 19,394 Sweden Sept. 24, 1904 149,468 Germany Mar. 10, 1904 

